The figure represents a 10% increase in the number of Israelis travelling abroad compared with the corresponding period last year.
Travel agency ISSTA Lines estimates that for the first time, over one million Israelis -one sixth of the population- will travel overseas in July-August. The figure represents a 10% increase in outgoing tourism compared with the corresponding period last year. The security situation and the drop in incoming tourism have not affected the number of Israelis going abroad.
The peak season for outgoing tourism begins on July 1, with the start of the school summer holiday.
ISSTA VP Marketing Ronen Karaso said 40% of Israeli tourists go to European capitals, 18% go to the US, 25% go to the Mediterranean basin, 8% (mostly backpackers) go to the Far East and South America, and 9% travel to Australia and Africa.
An analysis of summer travel bookings shows that the average length of Israelis' foreign holidays this year will be 7-10 days, and the average expenditure for the trips will be $600-800. The analysis also discovered that flight and recreation costs, in dollar terms, will be the same as last year at most destinations.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 26 June 2001